Breech-loading fire



(No Model.) I

. W. H. SHEAR.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

N0.-s35,043. V Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

- Mfg/2155525.

pqwm q fmr/ UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

hi lLLlAM H. SHEAR, OF ALBANY, NESV YORK.

BREECH-LOADINGI FIRE-AIRM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pateht No. 335.043. dated January 26. 1886.

Application filed November 5, 1885. Serial No. 181,879. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. satin, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading fire-arms; and it consists in the combination of the handle or stock, the barrel which is pivoted thereon so as to have its breech thrown up in the usual manner, a connecting-rod which is connected at its front end to the front end of the handle or stock, a lever which is pivoted upon the end of the barrel, and which has apoint or nipple to receive the cap,aud the hammer, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a breech loading fire arm of any desired kind in which a ball, loose powder, and cap are used, in contradistinction to the ordinary metallic cartridge which has heretofore been employed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fire-arm embodying my invention, partlyin section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the barrel broken down. Fig. 3 is a detail.

A represents a handle or stock, and B the barrel which is pivoted thereon, so that it can be broken down for the purpose of being loaded in the usual manner. When the barrel is in the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1, its rear end is closed by the breech-piece in the usual manner. In the rear end of this barrel is out a vertical slot, 0, and formed upon its under side are two ears or projections, D, in between which is pivoted the plate or lever F. This lever or plate snugly fits in the slot 0, so as to form a tight joint to prevent the escape of any gases when the discharge takes place, and which is cut away near its center in such a manner as to form a nipple or projection, G, upon which an ordinary percussion-cap is placed. This plate F is quite thin, as shown by the slot 0 in Fig. 3, and extends vertically through the breech-chamber, so that the powder rests upon both sides of it. The powder is held between the ball in the barrel and the cap on the nipple. The upper end of this lever or plate comes just flush with the top of of the barrel, while its lower end projects downward just far enough below the ears D to allow the operatingrod H to be pivoted thereto. The front end of this rod is pivoted upon the front end of thehandle or stock, and for the purpose of enabling the rear end of the barrel to tip up without operating the plate and the parts to work smoothly and evenly, this front end of the rod is slotted, as shown. When the barrel is locked down in position by means of the spring-catch I, which engages with the notch J on the lower rear end of the plate or lever, the nipple or projection containing the cap is just in front of the firing-pin L, against which the hammer strikes for the purpose of exploding the cap. When the barrel is broken down after having been discharged, the connecting-rod throws the plate or lever out of the slot 0 and holds it in an almost vertical position, so that the exploded cap can be readily removed and the breech of the barrel left free to have a fresh load inserted.

In order to load the barrel, it is first broken down to its full extent, then a ball is dropped into the chamber, which is cored out to receive it, and then the barrel is lowered at its rear end just far enough to allow the plate or lever to be forced home in the slot 0. This lever or plate forces the ball forward into the bore of the barrel, leaving the chamber clear, with the exception of that portion which is filled by the nipple, to have loose powder poured into it. After the chamber has been filled an ordinary percussion-cap is forced upon the nipple, and then the barrel is closed into position. When the trigger is pulled, the hammer strikes the firing-pin and explodes the cap upon the nipple, and the force of both the powder and the cap are used in driving the ball.

By means of the construction above described a breech-loading fire-arm is produced in which loose powder, ball, and cap are used the same as in a muzzleloader.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of thehandle or stock and the barrel pivoted thereon so as to be broken down and having a slot cut in its rear end, with a nipple-carrying plate or lever which is pivoted on the end of the-barrel, and which is operated by a connecting-rod when the barrel is returned to its unbroken position to close the plate into said slot, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the handle or stock, a barrel pivoted thereon, and a connecting-rod which is connected at one end to the stock and at the other toanipple-carrying platepivoted to the barrel and closed into a slot at the rear end thereof, together with the firing-bolt and hammer for actuating the same, as described.

3. The combination of the handle or stock and the barrel which is pivoted thereon so as to be broken down,which is cored out at its rear end so as to form a chamber to receive the powder, and has a vertical slot cut in its rear end, and which is provided with the ears D, with the lever or plate pivoted between such ears, which fits in the slot, and which has a nipple formed upon it to receive a percussion-cap, with the hammer for exploding the cap, whereby loose ammunition can be used in a breeoh-loader silbstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. SHE AR.

\Vit-nesses:

J AS. WV. BENTLEY, NEWTON W. THOMPSON. 

